Lisa Wilkinson Forewarned Her Logies Speech Could Delay Brittany Higgins’ Trial

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 28: Lisa Wilkinson speaks during B&T Changing The Ratio 2018 at Belvoir Street Theatre on May 28, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images for B&T) *** Local Caption *** Lisa Wilkinson
Mary Madigan
By Mary Madigan



10’s Lisa Wilkinson was reportedly warned of the legal implications for Brittany Higgins’ trial if she mentioned Higgins in her Logies acceptance speech.

The Australian has reported that ACT Supreme Court heard that before Wilkinson gave her Logies acceptance speech, she was pre-warned by ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold that in the “event of publicity,” there could be legal implications and delays in Higgins’ trial.

Interestingly, this is exactly what happened after Wilkinson’s Logie speech. The accused Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Steve Whybrow took action after Wilkinson’s Logies speech. He has asked the court to delay court proceedings arguing that Wilkinson’s acceptance speech has been so highly publicised it will impact Lehremann’s ability to have a fair trial and the court has now agreed to delay the trial.

In court yesterday, Justice McCallum read a note from Drumgold that read: “Lisa read the first line and (was) stopped by the director, who said we are not speech editors.

“We have no power to approve or prohibit any public comment. That is the role of the court. (We) can advise, however, that defence can reinstitute a stay application in the event of publicity.”

The Australian has reported Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the court: “I trusted the press. You were right and I was wrong.

“What concerns me most about this recent round is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated in the discussion on Sunday and Monday.

“The implicit premise of (Wilkinson’s speech) is to celebrate the truthfulness of the story she exposed.”

Twitter has weighed in.

A spokesperson for 10 told B&T, “Network 10 acknowledges the ruling by Chief Justice McCallum and fully supports Lisa Wilkinson. Both Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson take their legal obligations very seriously, including in the preparation and delivery of her speech given at the Logies event. In light of the continuing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”




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